BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1288
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 15, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1288 (V. Manuel Pérez) - As Amended: April 11, 2013
Policy Committee: Business,
Professions and Consumer Protection Vote: 12-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Medical Board of California (MBC) to
develop a priority review process for applicants for a
physician's and surgeon's certificate who demonstrate their
intent to practice in a medically underserved area (MUA) or
serve a medically underserved population (MUP), as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT
Costs to MBC should be minor and absorbable to develop the
required review process. This bill does not require any
outreach or other activities by MBC to put an applicant on the
priority list. Rather, this bill specifies acceptable
documentation for an applicant to submit to demonstrate intent,
including but not limited to, a letter from an employer
indicating the applicant has accepted employment and stating the
start date.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill aims to increase the number of newly
certified physicians and surgeons practicing in MUAs or
serving a MUP by requiring MBC to develop a priority review
process for applicants for a physician's and surgeon's
certificate for licensure that demonstrate an intent to do so.
This bill is sponsored by the California Medical Association.
According to the author, there is not currently a backlog of
applications but in the past backlogs did occur due to budget
actions and an influx of applications.
2)Licensing application process . MBC's initial review process
AB 1288
Page 2
for license applications must be completed within 60 business
days. According to MBC's website, the entire process can be
lengthy and individuals are encouraged to start the
application process at least six to nine months before they
intend to practice. Once a file is reviewed, the applicant is
notified in writing of the application status and given an
itemized list of documents needed to complete the file. The
missing documents requested by MBC are reviewed in order of
receipt. Only about 10% of applications are found to be
complete at the initial review. The additional documents
required for a physician and surgeon certificate often must be
sent directly from hospitals or other entities, which may help
explain the high level of incompletion and the long delays. If
a file is complete upon initial review, the license will be
issued within seven to ten days.
3)Currently, MBC finds that it is completing an initial review
of applications within 45 calendar days, well under the
mandated 60 business days. MBC does not request any
information regarding where an applicant plans to work once
licensed. During fiscal year 2011-12, MBC received 6,623
applications and granted 5,351 licenses. Although MBC is not
currently experiencing a licensing backlog, this bill will
still require MBC to establish a priority review process in
order to streamline the application process for those
physician and surgeon applicants who can demonstrate their
commitment in writing to working in MUAs or serving MUPs.
4)Medically underserved areas and populations . MUAs are defined
as healthcare shortage areas as specified in federal
regulations or an area of the state where unmet needs for
physicians exist as determined by the Office of Statewide
Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). The Commission
reviews and designates priority geographic areas in California
to address the unequal distribution of healthcare services
where unmet medical needs persist. Among the areas that are
designated as MUAs are Modoc County and portions of Trinity,
Inyo, Riverside, Shasta, Del Note, Tulare and Kings Counties.
MUPs are areas where persons are served by the Medi-Cal or
Healthy Families programs, or where there is an uninsured
population. Examples of areas that are designated by OSHPD as
MUPs are Mendocino County and portions of Lassen, Tulare,
Plumas and Riverside counties.
Analysis Prepared by : Debra Roth / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
AB 1288
Page 3